ANDERSON, S.C. – The Catawba College men's soccer team came away with its first South Atlantic Conference win in a 1-0 triumph over Anderson on Saturday night.
TEAM STATS
- The Catawba Indians (2-3-4, 1-2-2 SAC) tallied fewer shots than Anderson (3-3-1, 2-2 SAC) by an 11-9 split, but the visitors were superior with four shots on goal to three
- Anderson was cited for 10 fouls compared to Catawba's 15 as yellow cards were issued to four Trojans and one Catawba Indian
- The nation's ninth-best team in corner kicks registered seven for a one-kick lead over the Trojans
- The hosts held possession for 56 percent of the match, most of which was spent in Anderson's attacking half
INDIVIDUAL STATS
- Sebastia Cerda-Tous found the back of the net for the first time since the season opener with the game-winning penalty kick
- Cerda-Tous led the team in shots on goal with two, followed by Garrett Alban and Bautista Vecchi-Ramello with one apiece
- Freshman goalkeeper Joe Whitney recorded a clean sheet in his first career start, knocking away three shots to preserve the shutout win
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
- Catawba looked to pounce early as Cerda-Tous fired an on-target attempt 27 seconds after the opening whistle
- Alban got a 13th-minute look that Trojan keeper Franco Antoniolli Funes denied as Vecchi-Ramello made the netminder get active on a delivery in the 30th minute
- Anderson missed high once, right twice, and a last-minute try off a corner kick got blocked
- The blue and white used just one substitution in the first stanza
Second Half
- Eloy Allimadi saw shots sail wide left before Juan Pablo Lepervanche notched the Trojans' first shot on goal in the 64th minute that Whitney tipped away, forcing the second corner kick in less than a minute
- The opportunity bred another on-target shot by Anderson as Whitney gobbled up the attempt sent in by Pol Elias
- After dueling cautions, the sides opted for fresh legs as possession alternated frequently
- Anderson nearly took the lead on a 75th-minute Lepervanche free kick that hit the twine on the side of the goal,
- Charging down the field moments following Whitney's third save, Catawba drew a foul in the box to put Cerda-Tous on the penalty spot; the junior buried it with a dribbler to the right side
- Late chances for each squad were turned aside to finalize a Catawba victory over the regionally-ranked Trojans
UP NEXT
Catawba steps out of conference action on Wednesday, Oct. 9 for a meeting with Shaw. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Frock Field.
